egyptian_traditions_cultural_history_dance

THE PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE HAVE BEEN COPYRIGHTED
and are included in Cheri's books: "The History of Egyptian Dance" and "The Cultural History of Egypt"

During a Moulid in a small village in the Delta some of the men reached such a high
level of spiritual connection with God that they were able to put metal skewers
through their skin without bleeding or experiencing pain. They were in a trance-like
state of mind. Decades ago this was a common ocurrence to be seen at almost all
Moulids, but nowadays it is an extremely rare tradition that is almost extinct.

This is a match making dance filmed in an oasis village in the middle of the Libyan
desert near Bahareya. Each region of Egypt has different dance styles. The
movements vary depending on the various influences from the past. My book goes
into detail as to how these differences came about.

This was also filmed in the same village as above near Bahareya and is the men's stick
dance of that region. They have a very unique style of their own very different from
other stick dances.

This was filmed in a village in the Delta. It is a female version of the stick dance.

Film clip will be added soon. Come back again to check it out.

This was filmed during an Egyptian celebration/festival of a Saints Day. Each village usually
has a mosque that also houses the tomb of a holy man that resided in the village. There are
usually myths or special stories about the miracles or special circumstances surrounding
the holy man. The village celebrates either the birthday or death of this "saint". This film
took place late at night after a moulid and various stick dances took place. Afterwards the
musicians continued playing and the girls broke into dance.

Film clip will be added soon. Come back again to check it out.

This was the same fellow that is shown in the top clip sticking metal skewers through his face. In
this film he ate a glass. Yes, it was a real glass. And yes, he swallowed it. He did pass out
afterwards but came to and lived through it. It is an amazing thing to have documented on film.

This was a horse dance. The entire dance with this particular horse lasted over an
hour, but the film clip shown here is particularly amazing because the owner of the
horse got the horse to lay down and pretend to be dead. The owner of the horse
then danced around the horse for a while and then revived the horse.

This zikr lasted all night long. I have the entire 'experience' documented on film and it will
be released separately for academic use. The participants did all of the "breath"
techniques, floor movements, various gestures, sounds, etc. It is very rare to see this
complete process. This particular brotherhood has worked with the same Sufi Master for
years in a small village outside of Aswan and these men were very in tune with each other.
One short film clip cannot grasp what is involved in the "Sufi" experience, hence why I
intend to edit the best parts down to a 2 hour film showing all of the main techniques of zikr
(remembrance of God) as well as the history of Egyptian Zikr and Moulid.

Film clip will be added soon. Come back again to check it out.

Cheri Berens
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Over 15 years of hard work went into the making of these photos and films. It included living and working in the field; developing
contacts; research and education; travel and equipment expenses; and much more. I don't mind if you talk about these photos/clips
and refer to them, but please do NOT copy them, use them or quote me without permission. If you see someone using these
photos/film clips, please notify me. Thanks, Cheri

This was a match making dance in which the unmarried girls danced in front of
eligible bachelors. Although most marriages are already pre-arranged, the
festivities are lots of fun. This was filmed in a tent on the outskirts of Marsa
Matrugh between the border of Libya and the city of Alexandria.

This was part of what is called "el kahf", a hand clapping dance. This particular fellow in the
white turban was an incredible dancer and almost seemed to float when he danced. The "el
kahf" dance is almost extinct and this may be the only film of it done live in a village
atmosphere and not a staged performance. It was filmed in the village of Kom Ombo near
Aswan. You can see the Nubian influence as well as some Arab influence in the dance style.

Film clip will be added soon. Come back again to check it out.

This was one of the best tawteeb dances I've ever seen. It was so good that at one point the
villagers spontaneously stood up and yelled out their approval. This was after several other
competitors had already danced before them. The villagers' emotions and responses were the
best way to rate how well the dancers were doing. The musicians were also great and therefore
the music was extremely moving and made the dancers put everything into it.

This clip was filmed at a Nubian wedding and the event was filled with many surprises--including a
dwarf dance (dates back to Pharonic times). There was a male line dance going on throughout the
entire event, but also a circle formed and people took turns dancing inside the circle doing a 'solo'.

This was a henna night in a village in the Delta. The dancing went on all night long but this
shot was of the woman who did the henna on the bride. She did a henna dance.

Film clip will be added soon. Come back again to check it out.

After filming the regional dances of Egpyt its interesting to watch a street wedding in
Cairo. You can tell what village a person is from just by the style of their dancing.

Film clip will be added soon. Come back again to check it out.

This woman started singing old traditional songs during the above spontaneous dancing.

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